Currents You can find this and many other issues at lrboi.com Dataagmini-Giizis(Timbleberry Moon) Megwa Ezhiweback August 2009 Vol. 6 Issue 7 ALSO IN THIS PUBLICATION Commercial P.2- FROM THE OFFICE OF OGEMA Fishing Boats ROMANELLI P.3- COUNCIL NEWS for sale More details on pages 12 &13 P.4- ELDERS P.6&7- MEMBERS ASSISTANCE Fin & Feather P.10&11- PEACEMAKING P.17- TAX OFFICE P.24&25- MEMBERS SUBMISSIONS Office of Public Jiingtamok 2009 Affairs Lauris C Contact Information Find more jiingtamok photos on pages 26 &27! 1-888-723-8288 1-231-398-6840 Indian School Reunion Akenbell (PB4) Do you know their names? This photograph of the Indian School Reunion was submitted by the Family Services department and Mercury where possible the names of the participants were noted. As you look at the photo, please see if you can help us to identify those who have not been named. If you do know some of them, please contact Angie Turner in Family Services with the information. Just call the toll-free number and the receptionist will put you in touch with Angie. Or you may e-mail the information to [email protected] . Chas R Currents Dataagmini-Giizis(Timbleberry Moon) From the Office of Ogema Romanelli August 2009 Vol. 6 Issue 7 Page 2 Aanii, It has been an extremely Border Crossing & busy month for me. Tribes across the State met in Tribal ID’s Sault Ste Marie with the State of Michigan and Gov- Information Services ernor Jennifer Granholm for a Summit Meeting. Al- In June the Information Services Department of most a dozen tribal leaders the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal tribes signed a Climate Ac- Government announced a new URL (uniform cord with the Governor which basically sup- resource locator) for the Tribal Government’s ports concerns of global warming and climate website. This new URL is www.lrboi-nsn.gov changes. and was issued to the Tribe by the General Ser- Later in the month, I had the opportunity to vices Administration (GSA). The “nsn” of the participate in the Wellbriety Forgiveness Walk new URL identifies the website as that of a Na- which was held in Mount Pleasant for a way tive Sovereign Nation used only by federally to forgive the U.S. Government for promoting recognized Indian Tribes. Obtaining the “lrboi- “Indian boarding schools” across the United nsn.gov” name was the first step in the release States even though the Government has not yet of the Tribal Citizen’s only website. given apologies. The ceremony was touching The Tribal Citizens only website is designed to The US Customs and Border Patrol office and something not to be forgotten. I believe be a conduit of information and services direct- confirmed with Public Affairs at the begin- this effort will be long remembered and gain ly to the online Tribal Citizen from their Tribal ning of July that Tribal ID cards will not National attention in the near future. Several Government. The services, forms, reports and be sufficient for border crossings. Customs of our members were in attendance; LRBOI other information that is intended to be used by said that to cross the border (and come back) was well represented. or available to only Tribal Citizens will be the you must have a Passport. Your local Post The new Council has been installed and we content included in this version of the Tribal Office processes passport applications. have agreed to meet on a weekly basis aside Governments website. Access to the Citizens from the Council Meetings on an informal ba- only website will be available to all enrolled sis as a way to better communicate. There has Tribal Citizens via a user identification code been an effort to invite the Judicial Branch as and a password issued by the Information Ser- well, although we recognize that it is more dif- vices Department. ficult for them to attend but maybe monthly or Beginning July 6th 2009 a “register here” link quarterly can work. I believe it will be benefi- appeared in the Announcements section of the cial in keeping each other informed of Tribal home page of the Government’s website. Tribal activities. Citizens can use this link to submit their regis- At the risk of sounding like a broken record, tration data to Information Services for verifi- our ability to video tape meetings etc. is just cation by Enrollment and the issuance of a user about there. I believe the ability now exists identification code and password. and all that is left is getting the proper pro- Information Services plans to have the new Citi- cedures in place. As another “practice run”, zens only website operational by Labor Day of the installation of the new Council members 2009 and encourages all Tribal Citizens to regis- was U-streamed by Mack Brushman. Please ter. The first content to be moved to the Citizens watch the Rapid River News for updates on only site will be Tribal Council session minutes U-streaming and video recordings. I also made and other Tribal Council data as determined and a practice video which has been displayed on directed by Tribal Council. Then each depart- the Ogema webpage for several weeks and the ment will direct Information Services the con- feedback has been positive, the only problem tent that department desires to be secured on the now, is finding the time to change it on a regu- Citizens only site. lar basis. The Tribal Government Information Services The strategic plan/organizational assessment Department consists of four employees; Joan for LRBOI is moving forward in a timely man- Burkhart Webmaster; Christopher Varenhorst Attention ner. Staff from Osiyo, the company doing the Technician; Russell Manning Network Admin- assessment, spent time speaking with staff and istrator; all Tribal Members elected officials for a week recently, trying to George Le Vasseur Director. get as much information as possible. They will All Tribal Government websites were developed If you are interested in joining any return sometime in August to give us some and maintained by Joan Burkhart, Webmaster. of the following feedback. Commissions or Committees The Muskegon Project is staying on track and continues to move forward. With most of the please submit a letter of interest buildings down, demolition of the main build- to the Ogema’s office with a copy ing will be starting mid July and be completed going to the Tribal Council. within a month. Fall membership meeting Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the September 12th at the 2 seats – Commerce Commission Fall membership meeting to be held at the Event Center 2 seats – Gaming Commission Little River Casino Resort Little River Casino Resort on September 12th. 1 seat - Health Commission Until next month… 1 seat – Binojeeuk Dataagmini-Giizis(Timbleberry Moon) Currents August 2009 Vol. 6 Issue 7 Council News Page 3 Boozhoo! Aanish Naa? I am the newly appointed Recorder for the Tribal Council. It has been a few years since I had last been given the opportunity to serve the Membership in this capacity, and I am humbled to be selected to do so again. I would like to thank Kimberly Alexander for her service in the office of Recorder during her term of Office on the Tribal Council. Best wishes to Kimberly in her new endeavors. Steve Parsons is the newly appointed Speaker for the Tribal Council. Mr. Parsons has years of experience serving this capacity on behalf of the Tribe. I would like to thank Don Koon for his service in the office of Speaker during his term of Office on the Tribal Council. Best wishes to Don in his future endeavors as well. Following the Swearing of Oath of Office, the newly elected members of the Tribal Council are settling in to their new spaces on the Second Floor. The Contact information for the Members of Tribal Council are as follows: Name Office Direct Dial Toll Free/Extension Steve Parsons, Speaker 398-6830 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6830 [email protected] Janine M. Sam, Recorder 398-6835 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6835 [email protected] Loretta Beccaria 398-6834 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6834 [email protected] Candace Chapman 398-6831 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6831 [email protected] Robert Hardenburgh 398-6833 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6833 [email protected] Virgil Johnson 398-6820 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6820 [email protected] Norbert Kelsey 398-6828 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6828 [email protected] Pat Ruiter 398-6869 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6869 [email protected] Robert Whiteloon 398-6825 1-888-723-8288 Ext 6825 [email protected] The Membership is encouraged to contact the Recorder’s Office, to make suggestions for the information that you wish to see included in the monthly newspaper from the Tribal Council. Calls or emails are most welcome, and sugges- tions for improvements are encouraged. I thank you in advance for your input. Government Closes for the If you are not receiving the “Rapid River News”, and you have an email address, I also encourage you to contact the Office of Public Affairs to following Holidays have yourself added to the list. There are plans underway to change the LRBOI Website, to in- *New Years Day clude additional information from the *Treaty Recognition Day Tribal Council. We are looking at modifying the *Memorial Day page to be more USER FRIENDLY, as well as *Independence Day *Labor Day updating the content of the information. st Again, suggestions for what you would like to *Reaffirmation Day (September 21 ) see added are welcome.